Double throw co-axial switch



Jan. 30, 1962 D. H. LANCTOT DOUBLE THROW'CO-AXIAL swrrcn Filed Feb. 1.1960 FIG. 2

INVENTOR DONALD H. LANCTOT ATTORNEYS United States Patent:

3,019,322 DOUBLE THROW CO-AXIAL SWITCH Donald H. Lanctot, Malibu,Caiif., assignor to Don-Lan Electronics, Inc., a corporation ofCalifornia Filed Feb. 1, 1960, Ser. No.5,777 Claims. (Cl. 200-153) Thisinvention relates to high frequency components and more particularly toan improved co-axial switch for transferring elcctro-magnetic energyfrom an input connection between two or more output connections.

With the increasing capabilities of missiles and the like employingradar and fire control systems, components making up the equipment aresubject to more severe environmental conditions than ever before. In thecase of switches, it is of paramount importance that the switch becapable of reliable operation under all such environmental conditions.One such condition results from the enormous accelerations anddecelerations to which the missile is subject. To provide reliablemovable switching components which can operate under such high gloadings requires novel design approaches.

In addition to the foregoing, space and weight are at a premium in anyair borne equipment and thus switches for certain desired functions mustalso be designed with a view to extreme miniaturization.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide an improved co-axial switching unit fortransferring electro-magnetic energy from a single input connectorbetween first and second output connectors.

More particularly, it is an object to provide a switch meeting the aboveobject in which the movable components thereof are capable of reliableoperation under high g loadings, vibrations, sudden shocks and impacts,and the like. I

Still another important object is to provide a co-axial switch ofextremely compact design and which is capable of operation from remotelocations.

Briefly, these and other objects and advantages of this invention areattained by providing a conducting switch body which serves toelectrically connect the outer conductors of an input connector andfirst and second output connectors. The inner conductors of the firstand second output connectors terminate within the body in opposed spacedcontact ends. The inner conductor of the input connector in turnterminates in a pivoted contacting means in the form of a block'structure. The block includes a contacting portion extending laterallytherefrom to a position between the first and second contacts of thefirst and second inner conductors of the output connectors. An actuatingmeans is incorporated in the body and arranged to rock or pivot theblock such as to disengage the contact means thereof from one of theoutput connectors and connect, it to the other of the output connectors.The block together witlrthe contacting means is dynamically balancedabout its pivot axis so that large accelerations or decelerations willexert no torques on the contacting means and switching will only takeplace when the actuating means is intentionally encrgizcd.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by now referring toa preferred embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is an overall perspective view of the improved co-axlal switchof this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross section taken generally in the dircction of thearrows of 2-2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the movable components in first,actuated condition for passing energy from the input connector to one ofthe output connectors; and,

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 illustrating the movablecomponents in a second position for transferring energy from the inputconnector to the other of the output connectors.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 there is shown a switch body 10 having aninput co-axial connector 11 and first and second output co-axiaiconnectors 12 and 13, the latter two connectors extending into oppositesides of the switch body. The body 10 is made of conducting material andthus connects all of the outer conductors of the various co-axialconnectors electrically together.

Surmounting the body 10 is a housing 14 for a suitable actuating meansarranged to be energized by input leads 15 from a remote location.Energy passing into the input connector 11 may thus be passed fromeither the first output connector 12 or the second output connector 13depending upon whether or not the actuating means within the housing 14i energized.

Referring now to the cross section of FIGURE 2, the respective innerconductors for the output co-axial connectors 12 and 13 are shown at 16and 17 extending into the body and terminating in opposed axially spacedcontact ends 18 and 19 respectively. The inner or center conductor forthe input connector 11 is shown'in cross section at 20 and terminateswithin the body in a pivoted block member 21. The pivot axis for theblock member 21 is co-incident with the axis of the inner conductor 20and is designated A in both FIGURES l and 2. The pivot for the blockitself may be secured to the inner end wall of the switch body 10. Theblock 21 includes first and second engaging surfaces 22 and 23. Thesesurfaces are disposed with respect to each other such that their normalswill pass on either side of the pivot axis A and thus bearing pressureon either one surface or the other will cause a rotation of the block inone direction or the other.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the block includes a contacting means in the formof a flexible contact reed 24 extending normally from the pivot axis Ato a position between the first and second contact ends 18 and 19 of theinner conductors 16 and 17. An actuating means in the form of a plunger25 terminates at its upper end in end plate 26 and has its lower end inengagement with the first engaging surface 22 of the block 21. Thisplunger is arranged to be actuated to move in an up and down directionby electro-magnetic coils 27 encircling a guiding core 28 all within thehousing 14. In the position shown in FIGURE 2, the coils are shown intheir energized condition so that the plunger 25 is bearing against thesurface 22 to rotate the block member 21 in a clockwise direction andthus cause engagement of the flexible contact reed 24 with the innercontactingend 19 of the inner conductor 17.

A restoring means in the form of a rod. member 29 has its lower end inengagement with the surface 23 of the block 21 and is biased againstthis surface by a compression spring 30 within an off-set housing 31. Bythis arrangement, when the electro-magnetic coils are not energized,the. restoring rod. member 29 will rotate the block 21 in a counterclockwise directionto'elfect electrical connection between thecontacting reed 24 and contact end 18 of the inner conductor 16. Thislatter position of the movable components is illustrated in FIG- URE 3.

In the actual construction of the device as described with respect toFIGURES 2 and 3, the block member 21 and flexible contacting reed 24 aredynamically balanced with respect to the pivot axis A. Thus no movementof the block will take place under accelerating or decelerating forcesor even under shocks or impacts. Further reliability is insured bymaking the block 21 and reed 24 of extremely light mass. The forceexerted by the compression spring 30 for the restoring member -29 andthe force exerted by the plunger when the electromagnetic coils areenergized, are far greater than would ordinarily be necessary to rotatethe small mass of the block and reed. Thus, when the block and reed arein one position or the other such as illustrated in FIGURE 2 or in FIG-URE 3 they are held in such position with considerable force.

The overall operation of the device will be evident from the foregoingdescription. Energy is initially fed into the input connector 11. Whenthe electro-magnet'ic coils 27 are unenergized, the components are inthe position illustrated in FIGURE 3 and energy passing into the inputconnector 11 will be passed out of the output connector 12 through themedium of the block 21 and flexible contacting reed 24. When it isdesired to terminate passage of energy from the output connector 12 andinstead pass it through the output connector 13, the electromagneticcoils 27 are energized by a suitable signal on the input leads shown inFIGURE 1. Energization of these coils will then move the plunger 25 tothe position shown in FIGURE 2 to cause a clockwise rotation of theblock member 21. The second engaging surface 23 during execution of thismovement will retract the restoring rod member 29 against the force ofthe compression spring 30.

The degree of rotative movement of the block and reed in a clockwisedirection is checked by engagement of the underside of the top end plate26 of the plunger against the magnetic structure of the core and casing14. This degree of rotation however is made slightly greater thannecessary to cause the contacting reed 24 to touch the contact end 19.Thus, the reed will be flexed slightly and a pressure contact willresult insuring excellent electrical continuity. Similarly, when thecomponents are in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 in which thecoils 27 are unenergized, the engagement of the top end 26 of theplunger with the top cover of the housing 14 will check thecounter-clockwise rotative movement to a position slightly beyond thatnecessary to cause flexible contact reed 24 to engage the contacting end18. Thus a flexing of the reed in the other direction will occur toinsure a pressure contact.

In both positions, because of the relatively large forces exerted by thespring or by the electro-magnetic coils as the case may be, theparticular connection established is firmly held. It should also benoted that movement of the reed end of only a few mils is necessary tochange from one connection to the other and this movement is multipliedthrough the lever arm determined by the length of the reed 24 ascompared to the distance between the point of contacts on the engagingsurfaces of the block and the pivot axis A. Thus movement of the plungeror of the restoring member are respectively even less than the movementof the end of the flexible reed. This feature coupled with the extremelysmall mass and dynamic balancing of the structure enables extremelyrapid switching to take place.

It will also be evident from the foregoing that by bringing the inputconnector into the switch body at right angles to the two outputconnectors, the overall outside dimensions of the entire structure areminimized and maximum space is conserved.

Various modifications that fall clearly within the scope and spirit ofthis invention will occur to those skilled in the art. The double throwco-axial switch is therefore not to be thought of as limited to thespecific embodiment set forth merely for illustrative purposes.

What is claimed is:

l. A double throw co-axial switch comprising: a switch body having aninput connector and first and second output connectors; a contact meansconnected to said input connector, said contact means comprising a blockmember mounted for pivoting movement about a given pivot axis co-axialwith said input connector within said body and including a flexible reedpositioned to engage said first output connector when in a firstposition and to disengage said first output connector and engage saidsecond output connector when pivoted to a second position, said blockand reed being dimensioned for dynamic balancing with respect to saidgiven pivot axis; and means for pivoting said contact means between saidfirst and second positions.

2. A double throw co-axial switch, comprising: a switch body having aninput connector and first and second output connectors, said first andsecond output connectors having first and second inner conductorsterminating in first and second contact ends within said body inopposed, axially spaced relationship and said input connector having aninner conductor terminating in a pivoted block; a flexible contact reedhaving a fixed end secured to said block and a free end extendingnormally from the pivot axis of said block to a position between saidcontact ends, said block having first and second engaging surfaces, thenormals to said surfaces passing on opposite sides of said pivot axis;an actuating means in said body adapted to bear against said firstsurface upon actuation to rotate said block about said pivot axis in afirst direction; and a biased restoring means engaging said secondsurface to bias said block to rotate about said pivot axis in adirection opposite to said first direction, whereby the free end of saidcontact reed is normally held in engagement with said first contact endand moved out of engagement with said first contact end and intoengagement with said second contact end upon actuation of said actu'ating means.

3. The subject matter of claim 2 in which said pivoted block and saidflexible contact reed are dynamically balanced with respect to saidpivot axis.

4. The subject matter of claim 3, in which said actuating meanscomprises a plunger; and electro-magnetic coils surrounding said plungerto move said plunger against said first surface upon energization ofsaid coils.

5. The subject matter of claim 4 in which the axis of said inputconnector is coincident with said pivot axis and lies in a plane normalto the axes of the inner conductors of said first and second outputconnectors.

Beleskas June 7, 1949 Shunemann Nov. 23, 1954

